I used to be a tennis player but I injured my knee about a year ago. I had a few acupuncture sessions, went to 3 doctors, had MRI, CAT, x-rays, no one could give me a definite diagnosis. I do not feel any pain when I walk but immediate sharp pain if I try to play tennis, run or put more pressure on my knee.I'm wondering if anyone had an experience with prolotherapy. It sounds like a very painful procedure and I mostly wondering about the results.

I too am a tennis player.... I have been getting Prolotherapy injections for the last three months.... I am getting the injections in my neck.... I am scheduled for my fourth procedure in two weeks from now... I have been getting them every 30 days for a total of 4 treatments.

I know it takes time for the scar tissue to build up for strengthening to happen but so far so good.... my head doesn't feel so heavy to hold up and my spasms seem less also.

I go to a surgical center for the treatment because I get put to sleep.... recovery time is not bad.... side effects are.... being very sore at injections site... trouble laying head down... difficulty sleeping due to where injections are... that's it really...

Best wishes to you and hopefully you'll be back in the swing of things.LisaSlight reversal of the normal cervical curvature. Ther eis a 2mm antherolisthesis of C3 with respect to C4, a 2mm retrolisthesis of C5 with respect to C6 and a 2mm retrolisthesis of C6 with respect to C7Degenerative changes present at multiple levels as follows:C2-C3 osteophytes medial to the right intervertebral foramen and involving the right uncovertebral joint with minimal to moderate foraminal narrowing.C3-C4 herniation fo the disc medial to the right intervertebral foramen and encroaching uponthe medial aspect fo teh foramen measuring approx. 2.5mm in the AP diameter. There is marked compression of the right nerve root sleeve. There are osteophytes involving the right uncoverterbral joint with moderate to foraminal stenosis. There is minimal anterolisthesis of C3 with respect to C4C4-C5 herniation of the disc in the midline measuring approx. 2.5mm in the AP diameter woth minimal flattening to the ventral aspect of the cord. There are osteophytes involving the right uncovertebral joint with moderate foraminal narrowingC5-C6 posterocentral herniation of the disc measuring approx. 3mm in the AP diameter with flattening of the ventral aspect of the cord. There are osteophytes involving the right uncovertebral joint woth moderate foraminal narrowing. There is minimal retrolistesis of C5 with respect to C6C6-C7 minimal retrolisthesis of C6 with respect to C7. There is minimal diffuse bulging fo the annulus measuring approx. 2mm in the AP diameter. There are osteophytes involving the uncovertebral joint bilaterally with minimal bilateral foraminal narrowing.

Been off all medications for almost one month... couldn't deal with the side effects.... now only using 5% Lidocaine patches

Hello Nicolas! Welcome to the Chronic Pain forum! I'm glad to hear that you don't suffer from pain all the time. Many of us are not that lucky. Keep checking your post, and I'm sure there will be someone along who can help you. You will love the members here...they have been very gracious to me, to say the least! It may sound odd, but you will find that some of your best friends will reside right here on line. You wont find any phony's here! I also encourage you to support other members here when you can. Just a simple hello, can brighten someone's day. Again, we welcome you....enjoy your time here!

I have gone through 8 treatments of prolotherapy for my knee. I did this following two arthoscopic knee surgeries which were in my opinion were more harmful than helpful. The first surgery made my knee worse, but that doctor who diagnosed me with chrondromalica patella, indicated after surgery that my knee was mechanically fine now. A year later I had another scope and this doctor said I needed total knee replacement.

I wished I had avoided the surgeries all together and had done only prolotherapy, because it is the only thing that has helped. I honestly feel I would be totally pain free by now had I done this first. Unfortunately, my insurance doesn't cover it and the out of pocket costs of $410 per treatment get rather expensive, so I have to pace myself with my treatments as I can afford it.

I can now walk will very little pain. However, I'm still not running yet which has kept me off the tennis courts too. My doctor initially indicated 12 or more treatments. It is a slow and progressive healing, but in my opinion it does work.

The more pain you are in the less the treatments hurts, but as your pain lessens the treatments seem to be more painful. Fortunately, my doctor is very quick in doing them. There is some swelling and stiffness following the treatments that may last a day or two at the most, but no real pain afterwards, only healing!

I highly recommend anyone having joint problems try prolotheraphy before surgery. Do your research and go to only a doctor who only does prolotherapy full time for a living and not one that dabbles in it. There is a big difference between those who specialize in it and those who are dabbling in it.

I badly need such prolotherapy threatment, and seeking for a good place to do it. Does anyone have been to the "caring medical center" in Oak Park, Illinois? i,ve found many references about it in the internet, but for me it would be still a huge effort to go from EUROPE to USA just for that treatment. Unfortinately in Austria no one knows anything about it, where as in the states they have a 70 years experience!!!! Anyway i,m so fed up with that problems ( increasing instability of the thoratic spine, pain with irradiation into the thorax and upper arms, breathing problems, allthough no degenerative processes have been diagnosded), so if there is nobody competent to help me in Europe, I would do that trip. God bless America for its progressive medicine!I,m thankfull for any advices

RA I tried to go in and separate your post out into sections to make it easier to read but was unable to do so. If you would please go in and edit and separate it into smaller paragraphs. ThanksModerator Chronic Pain Forum

Dear RA! thank you for your comment. Well, the needle in the spinal chord is pretty scary stuff I must say!!! Do you have any statistic on how often it happens? Does it lead to neurological disfunctions?

i have never studied medicine but i thought the shot has to come directly on the spine to hit the spinal chord. prolotherapy is done one finger aside. concernig the lung i think the injection has to be quite deep. Anyway that is realy frightening

Alex there are pros & cons to this like anything else we try. One of the biggest problems most have faced is the time insurance companies will not cover this and it is expensive and there is no guarantee it will work. Kind of like maybe throwing good money after bad in a sense.

Another thing is from what I understand it is very painful and I am thinking there is no light sedation offered at the time. I am in enough pain and I do not need to add more especially knowing it may not work.

I suggest you do as much research as you can and be sure to check and see if your insurance will pay for it. Visit with your dr about this as well and get his/her input.Moderator Chronic Pain Forum